The Government is planning to build a new education centre at Downview prison so offenders can use their time behind bars constructively.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) submitted a planning application, earlier this month, to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council requesting permission to build a "single storey pitched roof modular building forming an activity centre for prisoners".

Downview, in Sutton Lane, Banstead, was closed as a women’s prison last October, but is due to re-open for adult men as a Category C resettlement prison in the summer.

Resettlement prisons are designed to help prisoners, particularly those who have been serving longer sentences, prepare for release. As part of the resettlement arrangements, some prisoners are able to go out to training or work from the prison.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "It is imperative that prisons become places of hard work and training - where prisoners use their time in custody constructively and address the root causes of their offending behaviour.

"We have recently submitted plans for a new education centre at HMP Downview, where prisoners can learn new skills and gain qualifications before their release.

"Our priority is to rehabilitate prisoners so they can find themselves a job and don't return to a life of crime."

The planning application, which cannot be viewed by the public for security reasons, will be considered by the council’s planning committee within the next month.

Comments (3)

Shame they dont educate the kids at schools about crime and that we dont have sentancing that makes kids scared of a life behind bars with no luxuries.

Its funny how the uk has turned into this politically correct mess that treat the criminals, the lazy and the immigrant far better than it treat its own hard working, honest UK citizen. Rather sad really! Why when the Government supposedly has no money are we invesing in criminals and bot building more schools and trying to lower the class size so our children can get a better education.

Shame they dont educate the kids at schools about crime and that we dont have sentancing that makes kids scared of a life behind bars with no luxuries.
Its funny how the uk has turned into this politically correct mess that treat the criminals, the lazy and the immigrant far better than it treat its own hard working, honest UK citizen. Rather sad really! Why when the Government supposedly has no money are we invesing in criminals and bot building more schools and trying to lower the class size so our children can get a better education.EwellMan

I would rather they turned all the prisons into factories to produce British made goods. I would pay them all in prison credits, say approx 50p to £1 per hour which they could then spend on luxury items (including cigarettes, TV time, study courses etc).

Anybody not working or trouble making gets put into the most basic of cells and gets slop food and no TV.

The sale of the factory produce can then pay for all prison costs, with tax on profits going to the government and any excess profits used for community improvements or to offset against council tax or other charges.

Seems like a simple solution to me. The prisoners should be forced to supplement our lifestyles rather than the other way around.

I would rather they turned all the prisons into factories to produce British made goods. I would pay them all in prison credits, say approx 50p to £1 per hour which they could then spend on luxury items (including cigarettes, TV time, study courses etc).
Anybody not working or trouble making gets put into the most basic of cells and gets slop food and no TV.
The sale of the factory produce can then pay for all prison costs, with tax on profits going to the government and any excess profits used for community improvements or to offset against council tax or other charges.
Seems like a simple solution to me. The prisoners should be forced to supplement our lifestyles rather than the other way around.jswan1

jswan1 wrote:
I would rather they turned all the prisons into factories to produce British made goods. I would pay them all in prison credits, say approx 50p to £1 per hour which they could then spend on luxury items (including cigarettes, TV time, study courses etc).

Anybody not working or trouble making gets put into the most basic of cells and gets slop food and no TV.

The sale of the factory produce can then pay for all prison costs, with tax on profits going to the government and any excess profits used for community improvements or to offset against council tax or other charges.

Seems like a simple solution to me. The prisoners should be forced to supplement our lifestyles rather than the other way around.

Like that idea!!!!

[quote][p][bold]jswan1[/bold] wrote:
I would rather they turned all the prisons into factories to produce British made goods. I would pay them all in prison credits, say approx 50p to £1 per hour which they could then spend on luxury items (including cigarettes, TV time, study courses etc).
Anybody not working or trouble making gets put into the most basic of cells and gets slop food and no TV.
The sale of the factory produce can then pay for all prison costs, with tax on profits going to the government and any excess profits used for community improvements or to offset against council tax or other charges.
Seems like a simple solution to me. The prisoners should be forced to supplement our lifestyles rather than the other way around.[/p][/quote]Like that idea!!!!EwellMan